Somethin' else

EDDIE COCHRAN

Description

More than just a singer, American Eddie Cochran a first-generation rock-and-roll singer, was first and foremost a guitarist and musician, tragically diving at the tender age of 21 in a car crash while on tour in England. Eddie was a gifted artist, with an original style using the slide technique and he also excelled at the picking guitar plus an expert instrumentalist and was often employed as accompanist for other singers. With a charismatic voice that could switch effortlessly between smooth ballads and raucous rockabilly he was an important influence on popular music during the late 1950s, early 1960s, and beyond. Eddie - the James Dean/Elvis Presley-like stars’ legacy lives on in his recordings which continue to evoke a mood of teenage abandon with rare humour, precision, and vitality that still resonates today and these tracks are now packaged into ‘Something’ Else’ a mighty fine sampler of prime output by a visionary artist who died three years into his recording career.

It only took Eddie Cochran a handful of tracks, recorded in just three years, to become the most iconic rock’n’roll artist. Rather than weep forever for the spectre of a work that could not be accomplished completely, let us rejoice that we are able to listen to the imperishable songs that he bequeathed.

His compositions have been taken up by various groups. ‘Summertime Blues’, one of The Who’s favourite songs also taken up by The Straycats, The Flying Lizards, Blue Cheer, T. Rex, The Beach Boys, Chris Spedding, Terry Reid, Motorhead, Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix and even Olivia Newton-John. ‘C’Mon Everybody’ has been sung by Sid Vicious, UFO, Bryan Adams, The Sex Pistols, Humble Pie and Cliff Richard. ‘Somethin’ Else’ has been featured by The Move, Slade, The Sex Pistols, The Flamin’ Groovies and Moorhead. ‘Twenty Flight Rock’ has had the honour of being sung by Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Cliff Richard, The Straycats and The Bunch. This list is not exhaustive and Cochran’s songs are still being revived today.

2CD with 72 original tracks, including his complete official 58 original recordings and 14 alternate, rare and live tracks.